With the Maple Leafs holding onto their star center, Auston Matthews’ time in Toronto will not end.
Re-signing Auston Matthews was the primary goal for new Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, who stated as much at the start of the offseason.
Treliving was able to check that task off his list on Wednesday when he signed the franchise center to a rumored $53 million, four-year deal. Starting with the 2024–25 season, the average annual value of $13.25 million will be the highest in the NHL.
The superstar chose a shorter term, even though Toronto was supposedly looking for a maximum-term deal. That ought to present him with another big-deal chance. Had he committed to eight years, his next opportunity to make a big money move would have been right before his 35th birthday.
The 25-year-old had a tremendous season in 2022–23, scoring 40 goals and dishing out 85 points in 74 games; nonetheless, it was a regression from his 60-goal effort in 2021–22, which earned him the Hart Trophy.
Since entering the NHL in 2016–17, Matthews has amassed the highest goal total in the league (299), won two Rocket Richard Trophies, led the league in even-strength scoring four times, and been nominated for five Selke Trophies.
The Maple Leafs have a much longer window of opportunity to compete, even though they would have preferred to keep Matthews on for as long as possible. Had the great center left after 2023–24, the squad would have been in serious trouble.
Although David Kämpf had a contract until 2026–2027, the Maple Leafs didn’t have many other long-term center alternatives aside from the defensive specialist. After 2024–2025, John Tavares will be a free agent, and the team’s farm system probably doesn’t have many middle-of-the-road top-six options.
